Method of and apparatus for welding



May l0, 1927.

. als. HUNTER HETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WELDING 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril -2. 1925- May 11o, 1927;v r

INVENTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fil-ed April 2, 192s Y P E HUNTER METHODOF'AND APPARATUS FOR WELDING P. E. HUNTER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORWELDING May 10'.' 1927.. 1,628,245

Filed April 2. 1923 4 sheets-sheet 4 Il /3 p3 INVENTOR Patented May 1D,1927.

UNITED STATES 1,628,245 PATENT ori-icaN PERCY E. HUNTER, 0F PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR- TOPITTSBURGII ANNEAITING BOX COMPANY, OFPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF AND .APPARATUS FOR WELDING.

Application led April 2, 1923.

My invention is an improvement in the art of welding metal, and isparticularly designed to provide means for heating the article to'bewelded and then subjecting it to welding pressure with a minimum loss oftime.

It has in view to provide means forsubjecting the blank, or portions tobe Welded, 'to the heat ot a furnace; then quickly moving the heatedblank from the furnace to a welding machine; and then subjecting ittherein to welding pressure or other forniative treatment, utilizingmechanism for supporting the blank over the furnace and for l) llshifting the blank, manipulating the welding or treating machine, etc.,as shall be more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated certain constructionsof apparatus for carrying out my invention, utilizing a plurality offurnaces and a carrying platform capable of being intermittentlyshifted, in which:

Fig. l is a general plan View of the turntable and furnaces. showing thearrangement with relation to the welding machine;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section therethrough, on the lineII--II of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing a reciprocable furnacesupporting platform associated with the welding machine;

Fig. l is a view of the elevati on Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sectionalviews on the lines V-V and VIHVI of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the furnaces onthe line VII-VII of Fig. l;

l Fig. S is a cross section on the line VIII- VIII of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation, showing the furnace lowered forshifting of the heatcd blank; K

Fig. l() is an enlarged cross sectional view through a portion of thewelding machine, showing the article to be welded located by itssupporting buggy in position between the dies;

Fig. 'll is a partial similar View, showing the welding dies incompression; and

Fig. 'l2 is a perspective detail view, showing the temporary supportingbracket for the blank. f

platform in side Serial No. 629,256.

llVhile the invention is not necessarilylimited to the utilization of aplurality of serving furnaces-on a single carrier or frame, I havesecured excellent results with an intermittently operable table providedwith a number of successively charged and successively deliveringfurnaces, as shown herein.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. l and 2, a series of open top heatingfurnaces A are mounted in radial arrangement andat preferablyequi-distant spaces around the outermost portion of a supportingturntable 2. ',lhe turntable. which may be of any suitable construction,is mounted by wheels 3 on a circular track flwith a suitable centerbearing 5. It is intermittently turned by any suitable means, asgearing, a cable, or-by hand. The turntable is preferably provided witha series of stop abutments or sockets G adapted to be engaged by alocking bolt or crank operated lever 7 or the like, to ensure bringingthe `furnace and its service tracks into proper alinement with thewelding machine B.

Each furnace A is adapted to support coml bustion at its upperopenportion for quickly and evenly heating the meeting edges of theblank to be welded, and is also adjustable vertically, whereby to bedropped for easy clearance of the heated articles away from the `fire.longitudinally of the furnace, as in Fig. 9.

To this end, it consists of a box-like frame 8 of sheet or plate metalwith a refractory supporting bottom 9 at each side of a centrallongitudinal air supply slot 10 for the fuel bed 11. The latter,l ofcoke, or other suitable fuel in combustion, is arranged at each'sidealong the center vfor adaptation and application of the heat to theblank.

In the particular application illustrated,

the blank C is in the form of a rectangular throughout its length by anair pipe lil arranged to delive` air to the open lower' air box l5,below the n'iiddle slot 10. rlhe pipe is suliiciently flexible toprovide for up and down movement oit the furnace. A suitable damperfalve 1 6 with its necessary operating handle t7 provided in each line'til to control the air supply.

Each brauch pipe connects with a, central air box 18 iin-orporated inthe central bearing portion ot' the tru'ntable, to which air is suppliedthri'iugh a central hole i9 in the bearing pedestal Qt) :trein a bloweror the like.` as will be readily understood.

Each turnace .A is pivotally niounted at its inner end on a truininin orpivot support 2l suitably ".arried by the turntable, and rests by its'forward end on a shoe 22, on the upper end ot a plunger 22E ot tluidcylinder 24e. Said cylinder is provided with a pressure and exhaust line223 leading to threeway valve 2G, by which the plunger is raised andlowered, to raise and lower the outer portion ot the furnace withrelation to the blank.

For the purpose o'l` holding' the Vturnacc )t erect at other time whennot in registering position tor low-ringby the plunger, each furnace isprovided with a pair ot supporting arms or levers G5 carried by rockshaft 66 carried by bearings (i7 below the table and operated by a handlever GS.

Outwardly beyond the turntable, but close thereto as practicable, is thewelding` machine B, in radial alinenient with each furnace when broughtto operative position by rotation ot the. turntable. At one side ot thewelding machine is a track 2T, and a siinilar short section ot track 28is laid on the turntable, alongside o'tv each furnace, so as to registerwith the track 27 as each iturnace is brought into position.

For the purpose ot sumJorting the blank (l above the :furnacer` and otmoving it there- Ytroni to the welding' machine when heated, alongsuchregistering; tracks, l provide a buggy 29 carried b y wh Yels 230 onsaid tracks, a separate buggy being` provided for each furnace.

The upper trainework 3l ot the buggy terminates in a. sloping`supporting tace or faces 32 to receive the inclined side ot the blank C,oit' plate inetal, and is also provided at its inner opposite edgeportion with trunnion sockets The purpose ot these is to receive andcarry the extended necks or studs 34tot a carrying` plate whichtemporarily claniped to the blank oy clamps h6. By this nieans, theblank, et the particular torni shown, is mounted on the buggy with itsoverlapping edges l2, 13, inaintained in proper relative position to theturnace, and subsequently, to the dies ot the welding machine.

The buggy may be nioved along the tracks by any suitable nieans, properstops being located at each end ot the desired movement.

It will also be understood that the blank in soine cases niay besupl'iorted and inovcd by inians ot any suitable siiperinipoaedinechanisn'i, as a crane, adapted to operate in the saine. relation tothe turnace and nuichine as the buggy and tracks, lor the saine purposeas described.

'.ilic weldingl machine l, which iis particularly adapted to thewelding' o't the yioint of an annealing;l box or similar article islocated outwardly beyond the turntable, but as close to it as possibleto save time in transptnftinn` the blank. 'l`he inachine, which isgenerallyT siinilar in constructimi to that o'lI niy companionapplication Vtiled herewith, Serial No. (329,257, liled April 2, 1,923,is provided with. a pair et eo-actinpl stationary and movable dier-i 3i'and 38, between which the overlapping ends li-l ol. the blank arewelded..

tilt-ationary die. il? is mounted along; the under side ol a supportinghorn or anvil block 39, which in turn is n'iounted al one end portion ot the machine by a crosaelu-iad Al() upon coluinns -l-l extendingupwardly Vtroni the niain toundation 'traine Movable die 3S is inountedabove the reciprocablc cross-head -f-ll carried up by plungers Ll--lfoll hydraulic or other tluitl-actuated eyliinlers eli, by which thecross-head and die are pressed upwardly undcr the active pressure ot thetluid. Cylinders -lf are controlled by the usual three-way regulatingvalve ttl and supply lilies elli', as will be readily understood.

lfor the purpose oi"l retaining` the extended end oit anvil block at):iigainst pressure dur- .ingjv the l`oi"'))iii; g1 operation, it isretainwl by the cross-ba or bolt -ltl ot swviiigriirn` links lil pivotedto the lower cro.- .-:-bolt 5t). Such rctainingr doubhy arni nieniber isadapted to be thrown upwardly and downwardly tlirounjli suitablezcjeariira` :3l-m32 actuated by tiuid pressure cylinders {i3-5l in onedirection or another, as controlled by valve 55 and alternately operatedi'luid supply lines- 5o, 5T, as inore 'tully described in theapplication above referred to.

llllhen the blank has been sullieiently heated and carried across tracks228-27 to bring' the heated ov rlaipinfr edges lQ---ll between the dies3T 2lb), arins Iit) are thrown upwardly to holding`- position, as inFig. i, whereupon, pressure is :aupiilicd to c 'v'liiiders 41:5,etl'ecting upward nioveiucnt ot cross-head 43 and die when the welding`operation is Xttected throughout the i'ull length ot' the sea-in.

In such operation, the entire blank is liiited vertically tln'ougg'h therange ot any necessary lost inotion, bearinfb)l necks 341: beine` thrustupwardly troni bearings 3?, and when the welding` operation is completedand fifi fifi

lill) lll) `of the dies of the Welding machine.

die 38 lowered, the original position will be resumed, with the blankresting backwardly against the inclined face 32 of the buggy 29.

rl`hereuponarms 49 are again thrown downl and the buggy vis shiftedbackwardly to its original position on the turntable, resting onsectional tracks 28, when the welded blank may be removed by a crane orother suitable mechanism.

Thereupon, a fresh blank is placed .in placed in position upon thebuggy, and the overlapping edges 12-13 are properly located over thefurnace fire for heating.

As each heated blank is lnoughtv around by the turntable intoregistering position with the welding machine, the operation justdescribed is carried out. In the meantime, each new blank is beingsuccessively mounted on the last used bugg f, and is being graduallyheated as the turntable revolves with the intermittent rest periods.

The heat of each furnace is under the control of the operator bymanipulation of damper 16, care being taken to increase the heat asneeded, to bring the temperature of the edges to be Welded up to thedesired degree, the operator also manipulating the fuel of the furnaceto bank it jup-properly at each side, and also utilizing movablesections of refractory material, as bricks, along the inner face of thesea-m, to assist inretention and radiation of the heat, as is Wellunderstood by those skilled. in the art.

The furnace A is maintained in its raised position during such heatingperiod by erected arms 65, and after the blankis at the propertemperature and just before shifting the buggy on the tracks toward thewelding machine, plunger 23 is raised, the arms 65 are thrown down as inFig. t), and its outer end is lowered by release of pressure fromcylinder 2st. Such lowering of the furnace and the fuel in combustionaway `from the heated edges avoids disturbance' of the fire or of anyportion of the furnace by interference with the outward movement of theblank, which can be then quickly shifted over to bring it within rangeThe maintenance of the air supply during such manipulation of thefurnace is `effected through the pipe section 141-, or a flexible hoseconnection may be used for the same purpose.

lVhile the welding machine as shown has given excellent results inpractice, and is well adapted to the Welding of the particular blankillustrated, for annealing boxes, in which the blank is of plate metalof approximately seven-eighths of an inch in thickness, it will, ofcourse, be understood that any other suitable or adaptable form ofwelding machine may be utilized., or that Vthe carrying buggy and itsparts may be modified or changed to suit any different adaptation of theinvent-ionin the manipulation and operation upon blanks or articles ofdifferent forms. i

It will also be obvious that, in place of the turntable construction, Imay utilize a reciprocable framework 58 mounted by wheels 59 on thetrack 60, and carrying a plurality of similarly constructed and simivlarly operated furnaces A. Such furnaces are located at intervals alongthe length of the reciprocable frame or platform 58, as shown, and ateach side thereof are the corresponding tracks 28 adapted to register7ith the track 27 leading alongside of the welding machine B. Eachfurnace is supplied by a main trunk air supply pipe 14, with branchsections 14a adapted to furnish air from a blower 6l mounted at one endof the platform and actuated by the driving motor (32, as will bereadily understood. The air ipply to each furnaceyis under the controlof a damper valve in the same manner already described.

The platform 58 may be propelled along the track and stopped at properintervals and positions to bring each furnace into registering positionwith the welding machine, and, .for the purpose of such movement, isprovided with gearing 63 and motor 64E for actuating one or more of thewheel axles in the ordinary Way.

The operation of the mechanism just described is in all other respectsgenerally similar to that utilizing the turntable construction. Ineither case, the blank is capable of being. gradually brought upto thedesired temperature and thenmoved to the `welding machine, and operatedupon within a minimum of time and with a resulting successful effect asto the welding of the metal. The manipulation of the blank is renderedcomparatively easy by means `of the apparatusiitself which is welladapted to reducing the amount of manual labor as well as the timeemployed.

The advantages of welding a blank Within as short a time as possibleafter .removal from the heat Will be ui'iderstood and appreciated by allthose familiar with the art, andthe apparatus as a whole is capable of alargely increased capacity as to out-put over previous methods andapparatus heretofore commonly used.

The invention may be variously changed and modified by the skilledmechanic to ada-pt it to varying conditions of use, different forms ofblank, and in various other ways, within the scope of the followingclaims.

What I claim is:

l. Means for heating metal and then quickly subjecting it to formativetreatment consisting of a pressure exerting machine having an upperfixed anvil and a lower vertically moving co-acting die, a portable llDllt

heating furnace, and means tor movingl a metal blank trom the iturnaceto a position between the anvil and die wherebyY it ma)V be raised bythe die against the anvil.

2. tlleans tor hci'iting metal and siibicet" it to 'formative treatmentconsisting ot' a stationauv pressure c erting machine. a port;- ablcheating Yfurnace adapted to be brought into alinen'lent with themachine. and means tor supi'iorting a metal blank entirelv7 abo re thevtnrnace and tor quickly moving it to opera live positioi'i withrelation to the machine.

3. ln heating and welding apparatus. a welding machine, a portableluinacc. and a blank carrier adapted to support a blank above Vtheheating tnrnace and to Atran-sport the blank trom the turnacc to thewelding?.` machine while providing `tor movement ot the blank duringlwelding` independent o't the carrier.

4l. ln heating and welding apparatus. a weldiiig machine. a portableiturnacc. and a blank carrier adapted to support a blank in heatingposition entirely above thc 'turnacc and to move it to relativel)Ymovable operative position between the acting members ot the welding`machine.

In heating and welding apparatus. a welding machine, a portable't'uriiacc, and a blank carrier provided with blank supporting mechanismadapting the location ot' the blank to heating position above lthe'tnrnacc and to moven'ient therefrom and adaptation independent of thecarrier to an operative position relative to the welding machine whensaid tracks are in register.

ln combination, a welding machiY e. a track leading thereto, a movableturnace support provided with a furnace and a connecting track, and ablank carrier mm'able over said tracks trom the furnace to the weldingmachine.

'i'. ln combination, a welding machine, a track leading thereto, amovable 'furnace support provided with a furnace and a connecting track,means for locking the tui-nace support when said tracks are in alnemcnt,and a blank carrier movable over said tracks trom the furnace to thewelding machine.

8. In combination, a welding machine. a track leading thereto, a movabletnrnace support provided with a furnace and a connecting track, and ablank carrier movable over said tracks trom the furnace to the weldingmachine, and provided with means tor loosely supporting a. blankthereon.

t). In combiinition. a welding machine. a track leading thc-reto. amovable turnacc support provided with a verticall)7 adjustahh` tui-nace.a track alongside the furnace and adapted to connect with said track,and a blank carrier movable over said tracks from the furnace to thewelding machine.

l0. ln combination, a welding machine 'furnace and to move it betweenthe welding dies.

l1. ln combination, a welding machine. a track leading thereto, amovable l'nrnacc snp port provided with a series ot i'nrnaccs andconnecting track sections, and a blank car rier tor each oit saidfurnaces and its track section movable thcreovcr and over thc trackleading to the welding machine when in registering position.

lL". ln combination, a welding machine, a

track leading thereto, a movable l'urnacc support provided with a seriesot tnrnaci-s and connecting track sections. means 'for sni'iplif'ing toeach otl said furnaces, anal a blank arricr tor each ot said Ytunnaccsand its track section movable thcrcovcr and over the track leading tothc welding machine when in registering position.

13. In combination with a welding niachine.r a sci-ving turntableprovidcd with a series ot radially arranged heating 't`u|n;n-c., andmeans iifor moving` a blank Vtrom a position on the turn-table over oneol' thc. 'tur-l naccs to the welding machine.

't-l. ln combination with a welding maY chine and a track leadii'igthereto. a ncrving turntable provided with a series otlv annularlyspaced heating` tnrnaccs each having a track adapted to register withsaid rack. and. a blank carrier movable over saidV tracks.

l5. ln combination with a welding mawv chine and a track leadingthereto. a serving turntable provided with a series ot annidarliY spacedheating furnaces each having a tract: adapted to register with saidtrack. and a serving buggy for each ot said turilaccs movable over saidtracks when in registcringl position and provided with means Ytorsnpporting a blank.

1G. In combination with a welding machine and a. track leading thereto,a serving turntable provided with a series ot annularly spaced heatingfurnaces each having a track adapted to register with said track, and alservingbugg7 for each oit. said turnaccs movable over said tracks whenin registering` position and provided with means Vtor looselyysupporting a blank whereby it may be gripped by the welding` machine anddisengaged from said supporting means.

17. In a combination with a welding niachine having a horizontallj,Tarranged operating space between opposing` dies, a bugg7 having an uppersupporting traine provided. with open sided socket bearings 'forsupportjill llt)

ing and moving a blank along a plane coinciding Wit-h the operatingspace and providing for free upward movement of the blank from saidbearings during action of the dies.

18. In combination with a welding machine having a horizontally arrangedoperating space between opposing dies, a buggy having an inclinedsurface and oppositely located. open sided socket bearings forsupporting and moving a blank along a plane coinciding with theoperating space and providing' for free upward movement of the blankfrom said bearings during action of the dies.

li). In combination with a welding machine having a horizontallyarranged operating space between opposing dies, a normally horizontalvertically adjustable open top heating .furnace7 and means forsupporting a blank thereover and for moving it therefrom along` a planecoinciding with the operating space of the welding machine.

2U. ,ln combination with a nfclding machine having a horizontallyarranged operat lng space between opposing` dies, a normally horizontalopen top heating furnace pivotally mounted at one end and having meansfor lowering the other end, and means for supporting a blank thereoverand for moving it therefrom along a plane coinciding with the operatingspace of the Welding machine.

2l. In combination With a Welding machine having a horizontally arrangedoperating space between opposing dies, a normally horizontal open topheating furnace pivotally mounted at one end and having means forsupporting, lowering and raising the other end, and means forsupportinga blank thereover and for moving it therefrom along a planecoinciding with the operating space of the welding machine.

22. In combination with a welding machine having a horizontally arrangedoperating space between opposing dies, a normally horizontal open topheating furnace pivotally mounted at one end and having means forsupliiorting,y lowering and raising the other end, and having means forsupplying air to the fuel of the furnace; means for supporting a blankover the furnace and for moving it therefrom along a plane coincidingwith `the operating space of the welding machine.

signature.

PERCY E. HUNTER.

